At least 15 Palestinians taking refugee were killed after a school run by the United Nations was shelled on Thursday, adding to the hundreds of civilians killed in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

The U.N. said its school in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip was shelled this week, killing 15 people and injuring hundreds of refugees displaced by the conflict. Over 10, 000 Gazans were under the shelter of UN.

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U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the recent attack and called on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas militants to respect Humanitarian law

"Many have been killed, including women and children, as well as UN staff," Ban said in a statement. "Circumstances are still unclear. I strongly condemn this act." 

The attack was carried out despite the fact that U.N. had given its precise GPS locations of all schools it is operating to Israel forces to avoid getting caught in the offensive.

Ban, who arrived in Cairo to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to broker a ceasefire, has fallen short in identifying which group is responsible for the attack. He said they still have no concrete details on the perpetrators.

Gaza officials blamed Israel's ground invasion of the Gaza Strip that led to the fatalities. On the other hand, Hamas militants are launching rockets across the Jewish country.

IDF spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said the IDF is investigating the school shelling incident and hinted that the rocket came from the Hamas militants.

The latest shelling on the U.N. facility, where refugees thought they would be safe, has underlined the need to broker peace talks to stop the 17-day ongoing war.

The armed battle has resulted in the death of 796 people, mostly civilians, with 32 soldiers on the part of Israel.

Israel is intensifying its ground invasion to stop Hamas militants from attacking the country, uncovering the "horror tunnels" used by militants to infiltrate Israel and carried out ground attacks.

Over 50, 000 soldiers have been deployed in the Israeli military operation, supported by aerial and naval attacks.

Ban has renewed his call on both sides to halt their offensives to come up with peaceful negotiations on how to completely end the hostilities. "Today's attack underscores the imperative for the killing to stop - and to stop now."

Egypt has been trying to broker peace talks, with the support of U.N., U.S. and other countries. But as of Friday, no deal is in sight with both countries insisting their right to defend their countries.

Hamas militants has been urged to accept a peace deal, but refused and said Israel should first meet its conditions, including the easing of border restrictions for its 1.8 million Gaza population.

TagsGaza, Hamas, Israel, Shelling